Asian American Federation of New York Census Information Center

Census Profile: New York City’s Taiwanese American Population

Downtown Flushing, where many Taiwanese businesses are located.

IntroductionUsing data from the 1990 and 2000 U.S. censuses, this profile outlines characteristics and trends among New York City’s Taiwanese American population.1 It presents statistics on population size and changes, immigration, citizenship status, educational attainment, English ability, income, poverty, and housing.2 Comparisons with New York City’s general population and total Asian population are provided for context.3

Among notable traits, census data show that from 1990 to 2000, the Taiwanese population in New York City decreased while the number of Taiwanese in the New York metropolitan area, including suburbs, increased substantially. Also, compared with New York City residents overall, in 2000, Taiwanese in the city had higher incomes and more education but less command of English.

PopulationFrom 1990 to 2000, the Taiwanese population in New York City declined by 9 percent, from 6,011 to 5,488 – contrary to the city’s overall 9 percent increase and the 71 percent growth of the city’s total Asian population. The loss of 523 Taiwanese New Yorkers represented the greatest numerical reduction and was one of only three decreases among Asian groups in the city in the last decade.4

In contrast, the number of Taiwanese in the New York metropolitan area rose by 19 percent, from 11,998 in 1990 to 14,230 in 2000 –nearly matching the 17 percent overall population growth in the metropolitan area but not approaching the 82 percent increase in the total Asian metropolitan-area population.5

In New York City, in 2000, the majority (71 percent, or 3,911) of Taiwanese lived in Queens, followed by Manhattan (with 19 percent, or 1,070). Remaining Taiwanese lived in Brooklyn (6 percent, or 308); Staten Island (2 percent, or 119); or the Bronx (1 percent, or 80).

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Taiwanese American Statistics at a Glance

Population2000 Alone or in-Combination Population in New York City 5,488

Population in Queens (as a Percentage of NYC Pop.) 3.911 (71%)

Population in Manhattan 1,070 (19%)

Population in Brooklyn 308 (6%)

Population in Staten Island 119 (2%)

Population in the Bronx 80 (1%)

1990 Population 6,011

Population Decline from 1990 to 2000 -9%

Immigration

Foreign-Born Population 4,969

Foreign-Born Percentage of Total Population 81%

Educational Attainment (Adults 25 and Older)

Number of Adults Without a High School Diploma 460

Percentage of Adults Without a High School Diploma 10%

Limited English Proficiency (Speaks English “Well,” “Not Well” or “Not at All”)Total number 2,946

Percentage of Total Population 49%

Income

Median Household Income $51,266

Median Family Income $62,103

Per Capita Income $29,434

Number of Households Earning Less Than $20,000 571

Percentage of Households Earning Less Than $20,000 24%

Number of Households Earning $100,000 or more 563

Percentage of Households Earning $100,000 or more 23%

Poverty

Number of Individuals Living in Poverty 970

Percentage of Total Population Living in Poverty 16%

Number of Children (Under 18) Living in Poverty 110

Percentage of Children Living in Poverty 16%

Number of Elderly (Age 65 and Over) Living in Poverty 26

Percentage of Elderly Living in Poverty 8%

More than eight out of ten Taiwanese were

working-age adults.

In 2000, working-age adults (age 18 to 64) were represented disproportionately in New York City’s Taiwanese population, comprising 81 percent (4,431) of the group, compared with 64 percent of all city residents. Children (age 17 and younger) made up only 12 percent (662) of the city’s Taiwanese population, compared with 24 percent of the city-wide population. Senior citizens (65 and older) constituted 7 percent (395) of Taiwanese New Yorkers, versus a city-wide proportion of 12 percent.

Immigration and CitizenshipNearly 8 out of 10 (81 percent) of New York City’s Taiwanese in 2000 were foreign-born – more than twice the proportion of immigrants among all city residents (36 percent).

The majority of Taiwanese immigrants in New York City came to the United States in the last 20 years. Specifically, 20 percent (1,016) immigrated from 1990 to March 2000, 44 percent (2,210) arrived in this country from 1980 to 1989, and 35 percent (1,743) came before 1980.

Of all the city’s foreign-born Taiwanese residents counted in the 2000 census, 56 percent were naturalized citizens, compared with 45 percent of all foreign-born New Yorkers. Taiwanese immigrants in the city also obtained citizenship faster than foreign-born New York residents as a whole. According to 2000 census data, 46 percent of Taiwanese New Yorkers who had immigrated in the last 20 years were citizens, compared with 31 percent of residents city-wide who had immigrated in that time frame.

Educational AttainmentAt all education levels measured by the census, Taiwanese in New York City in 2000 had more schooling than the city’s general population.

Of the city’s 4,405 Taiwanese adults, 10 percent (460) had not graduated from high school, compared with 28 percent of adults city-wide.6 Also, 8 percent (336) of Taiwanese adults in New York City had less than a

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ninth-grade education – about half of the 15 percent rate for all adult New Yorkers.

At the high end of the educational spectrum, almost three-quarters (74 percent, or 3,243) of Taiwanese adults in New York City had some form of post-secondary education, compared with slightly less than half (48 percent) of all city adults.

Most school-age Taiwanese children in New York City (87 percent) were enrolled in the city’s public school system, exceeding 79 percent of city children overall.

English ProficiencyNew York City’s Taiwanese residents had higher occurrences of Limited English Proficiency (LEP) than New Yorkers as a whole in 2000.7

Nearly half (49 percent) of the city’s total Taiwanese population spoke English “well,” “not well” or “not at all” – more than double the 24 percent rate for New Yorkers overall.

In terms of age, the LEP classification applied to 48 percent of Taiwanese working-age adults and 87 percent of Taiwanese senior citizens in New York City – far greater proportions than the corresponding city-wide rates of 25 percent and 27 percent.

IncomeTaiwanese New Yorkers had higher incomes than New York City residents overall for all income gauges as of Census 2000.

The Taiwanese median household income was $51,266, compared with $38,293 for the entire city population. Median family income was $62,103 for Taiwanese and $41,887 for city residents as a whole.8 Additionally, Taiwanese per capita income was $29,434 – more than $22,402 city-wide.

PovertyAs of the 2000 census, poverty rates for Taiwanese residents in relation to the total New York City population were lower, overall and for all age groups.9

Among all Taiwanese in the city, 16 percent lived below the poverty line, compared with the general New York City poverty rate of 21 percent. Eight percent of elderly Taiwanese in the city lived in

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poverty – less than half of the 18 percent rate for elderly residents city-wide.

Meanwhile, 16 percent of Taiwanese children in New York City experienced poverty, compared with 30 percent of all city children. Of the city’s Taiwanese children below the poverty level, 62 percent lived in two-parent families, in contrast with 34 percent of all city children in poverty.

HousingTaiwanese New Yorkers in 2000 had the same average household size as the general New York City population (2.59 members).

Although renting edged out home ownership for Taiwanese in New York City, Taiwanese were more likely to own their homes than New Yorkers as a whole. According to the census, 49 percent of Taiwanese in the city owned their homes and 51 percent rented, compared with 30 percent homeowners and 70 percent renters in the city overall.

Footnotes1 All numbers are from the Summary Files (SF) One, Two, Three and Four of the U.S. Census. However, SF One and SF Two data refer to information collected from a 100 percent U.S. population survey while SF Three and Four data represent results from a sample survey of 1 in 6 Americans. 2 Because certain socioeconomic characteristics are covered only in SF Three and Four data, the small size of the Taiwanese population in New York City results in a total population estimate that exceeds the Taiwanese population total derived from the 100 percent U.S. population count.3 Rates and percentages for each section of this profile are derived from the data universe related to the topic at hand. Therefore, population tallies for one subject will not necessarily correspond with those for another topic.4 When compared with the “Taiwanese Alone” category for the 1990 census, the Taiwanese population decreased by 29 percent (1,723). 5 The New York metropolitan area is defined here as the Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area for New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT-PA used in the 2000 Census Summary Files.6 For education tabulations, adults were defined as individuals age 25 and older.7 Limited English Proficiency in this profile refers to individuals who spoke English “well,” “not well” or “not at all.”8 Household income refers to the income of all occupants of a housing unit. Family income refers to the earnings of a group of two or more people (one of whom is the householder) related by birth, marriage or adoption and residing together.

9 In the 2000 census, families and individuals were classified as below the poverty line if their total family income or unrelated individual income was less than the poverty threshold specified for the applicable family size, age of householder, and number of related children younger than 18 present in 1999. For these thresholds, please see http://www.census.gov/hhes/poverty/threshld/thresh99.html.

Technical Note Race CategoriesThe 2000 census was the first decennial census in which respondents were allowed to mark more than one race. As a consequence, Census 2000 race information is far more complicated than such data from previous censuses. For example, 2000 data include results for single-race as well as multiple-race responses. “Asian Alone” corresponds to the respondents who reported exactly one Asian group and no other race category. “Alone” should be considered the minimum population size in any analysis that uses Census 2000 data. To be as inclusive as possible, this profile uses “Alone or in Any Combination” numbers.

“Alone or in Any Combination” corresponds to the responses (not respondents) that included the selected Asian group, either alone or in any combination with other Asian groups or other race categories. If a respondent selected an Asian group and another racial group (e.g., Taiwanese and Black), that individual, while excluded from the “Asian Alone” count, was tallied in the “Alone or in Any Combination” count for the Asian group and the other racial group. Hence, some overlap in the “In Combination” numbers occurred. “Alone or in Any Combination” should be considered the maximum population size in any analysis that uses Census 2000 data.

About This ProfileThis is one of a series of population profiles prepared by the Asian American Federation of New York Census Information Center (CIC) to increase understanding of the rapidly-growing and diverse Asian American population in the New York metropolitan area.

The Asian American Federation of New York, a nonprofit leadership organization that works to advance the civic voice and quality of life of Asian Americans in the New York metropolitan area, was selected by the U.S. Census Bureau to operate the only Asian American-focused CIC in the Northeast. Established in 2000, the center provides census information, conducts data and policy analysis, and encourages census participation.

Data citations from this profile should include the following acknowledgment: “Data derived from analysis by the Asian American Federation Census Information Center.”

For More InformationFor more information regarding this profile, please contact Howard Shih, data manager, Asian American Federation of New York Census Information Center, at (212) 344-5878, ext.19 or howard@aafny.org, or visit www.aafny.org/cic/.

Funding support for this profile series has been provided generously by the Citigroup Foundation and the C.J. Huang Foundation.

© 2005 Asian American Federation of New York4/05

Asian American Federation of New York 120 Wall Street, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10005Tel.: (212) 344-5878 | Fax: (212) 344-5636E-mail: info@aafny.org | Website: www.aafny.org